High School

Swimming: Sacred Heart young, but still strong contender By JOHN TORSIELLORepublican-American

NEW HAVEN, CT - 13 November 2012-111312EC05-- The Sacred Heart coaching staff cheers and reminds their swimmer to stay streamline during the 500 freestyle event for the Class S Swim finals at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. From L to R: Assistant Coach Lindsey Osborn and Ray Snyder, and Head Coach Butch Savage. Erin Covey Republican-American.

After winning three out of the last four Class S state titles and two consecutive Naugatuck Valley League championships, Sacred Heart boys swimming coach Ray Snyder doesn't expect any sympathy when he says this year's team is a work in progress.

"We have 37 kids on the team and we had 40 out, which was the most we have ever had, and that is in large part a product of our success," Snyder said. "That being said, we are inexperienced. We have had a good run the last several years but we are kind of getting decimated year after year by graduation. We can't reload like the suburban teams."

Nonetheless, the Hearts are unbeaten at this point, having already topped NVL contender Watertown. Sacred Heart also has some superb talent back, including the coach's son, Ray Snyder IV.

"We also have a very good freshman, Mike Saunders, who swims mostly freestyle and has been scoring points for us," Snyder said. "We have a lot of new kids who are working hard and doing what they are told. We are improving. I think we will be there in the end with Holy Cross, which is probably the favorite, along with Naugatuck and Torrington. There is a lot of swimming left and everyone will be battling sickness and injury, so we will see what happens."

Welcome back

After a year's absence, Todd Dyer has Shepaug back on track for another Berkshire League title after a third-place finish in 2012.

Dyer stepped away from coaching last season to pursue additional education and to care for his wife, who had a bout with illness. The veteran mentor said it was tough for him to be away from the pool, but it worked out for the best.

"I really enjoy coaching and it was tough not coaching last year," Dyer said. "It was especially difficult because in many ways I knew it would have been a different season if I had been

See SWIM, Page 5C

coaching. With everything we were dealing with last year, it worked out for the best in the end."

Dyer turned the team over to Jessica Wilson, who did a capable job and led the Spartans to an 8-2 dual meet record and third-place finish in the Berkshire League. Still, it was not the kind of year Shepaug is used to. The Spartans had won 10 Berkshire League titles in a row entering last season. But Dyer, who has amassed close to 350 victories as a coach at Holy Cross and Shepaug, has his team off to a great start and headed toward reclaiming the BL championship.

The Spartans beat last year's champ, Litchfield, in convincing fashion last week, 103-77, and have also beaten Lewis Mills, another contender for BL honors the last four or five years.

A number of swimmers have risen to the occasion for Shepaug, including Colin Reilly, Colin Decker, Freddie Pitcher, Clayton Firmender and the always-dependable Clara Wolfe, the latter perhaps being the best female swimmer in the league. Mariah Hoffman has also emerged as a standout diver.

Dyer is in his ninth season at Shepaug and 19th overall as a coach. With Dyer as head coach at Shepaug, the Spartans won six BL titles (2006-2011).

Henry Kavle may be the best swimmer in the BL. He has become the top distance freestyler in the Berkshire League and is enjoying another outstanding campaign. At the 2012 Berkshire League Championships, won by Litchfield, he took both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. He was also on the second place 200-yard freestyle relay with Joey Janice, Colin Dunn, and Zach Crane, and on the winning 400-yard freestyle relay with Ryan Schoerner, Dunn, and Crane. At last year's Class S state meet, he was 6th in both the 200- and 500-freestyles, and was on the 11th place 400-freestyle relay team with Schoerner, Crane, and Eric Sandrib.

In a recent loss to arch-rival Shepaug, Kavle was brilliant and showed his versatility. He won the 200- and 500-freestyle events and also the breaststroke, an enormous achievement for a swimmer.

Litchfield head coach Brown says Kavle is "without a doubt the hardest working individual I have had the privilege of coaching." He added, "His work ethic is only part of the exceptional individual that Henry is. Henry carries a presence with him that is a true testament to his character and pride in his team. I know that I can count on Henry to face any challenge with 100 percent effort. This past Saturday, he led his teammates in a set of repeating 100 yards, 100 times, which lasted almost three hours. He did so without ever losing focus or drive. He is also one of the most coachable athletes I have ever seen."

Pomperaug has a huge meet tonight against Brookfield, which dethroned the Panthers last season after Pomperaug had won five straight South-West Conference championships.

But head coach Fran Pentino isn't putting all his eggs into this basket.

"It's one meet and whoever loses can make up for it by not losing any other SWC meets and winning the conference meet, because that is the tiebreaker in case two teams or more finish with the same dual meet record," Peniton said. "Don't get me wrong, we're going to try to win against Brookfield, but we have other goals as well."

Like last year when Pomperaug lost the conference but wound up winning the state Class L title, its sixth state championship in a row and 11 in all.

By the way, Brookfield won the state Class M crown last season.

"We're a young team but we have a legitimate shot at repeating as state champion," said Pentino. "Whether we can pull it off is another thing. Cheshire is a much improved team and Wilton has moved up to Class L this season."

Pomperaug and Brookfield are both unbeaten entering tonight's meet, at Pomperaug at 7 p.m.

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